At the current tax rates in Russellville, the addition of a Walmart Neighborhood Market off West Main will generate a projected tax gain of approximately $55,320 annually.

Russellville School District would receive $48,960 of that total while the general fund and the library would receive $1,200 each. The city would receive $960 and the roads fund would receive approximately $3,000 annually. These amounts are based upon a $46.1 mill tax on the projected cost of this Walmart project.

This is a plus for the school district, the city, the county and other recipients of funds. Further, the addition of approximately 60 to 90 jobs with an average Walmart wage of $12.78 generates $2 million-plus into the amount consumers will take to the markets of Russellville from those wage earners.

That is progress and if you deny this, you will kill a $2 million purchasing power in the hands of commercial consumers in Russellville. Keep your commitments on growth or progress.

As an example, the current additional construction at ConAgra will provide for tax base increase, jobs and productions of additional products for consumers. That is another example of growth and positive results for our community.

Choose to vote for growth and progess with the addition of 60 to 90 jobs in the city of Russellville. The Walmart store on East Main employs approximately 400 people. Adding 60 to 90 jobs off West Main shouldn’t be presented as a negative for Russellville as some people who seem to have special interests in the outcome of the created election.

Creating jobs has been a high priority for several years with unemployment at 7.6 percent nationally and perceived to be much higher. Don’t criticize the largest employer in the world which is an Arkansas enterprise — Walmart! A store off West Main is progess and a plus for Russellville when considering additional tax base and annual income growth from 60 to 90 new jobs.

In closing, Arkansas Tech University has doubled enrollment in the past few years. We can certainly tolerate the traffic as positive growth for Russellville.

John Montgomery

Russellville

Where were you?

Some time ago a small businessman tried to get permission to put in a tire shop across the street from The Depot in a building that had been vacant for some time.

The mayor did not go to bat for him. The city council did not support him. There were no committees formed to support his efforts. He didn’t have a team of lawyers to plead his case. The planing commission didn’t give him any requirements to meet in order to put his shop there. No one put up little signs around town talking about progress.

They all just said no and he went away. Get the picture? Progress, free enterprise? Not always. Where were you?

I find it very interesting that the bogus Committee for Community Progress can afford to send mass mailings and have signs placed all over town trying to give the impression that there is an overwhelming level of support from the citizens. I would love to learn who is financing this effort. Perhaps it's the Walmart attorney or one of our Council Men that stand to gain from its construction. Did you happen to notice that these signs are placed at every property for which John Newton is the realtor? Let's see who is the Realtor for the proposed location Hmm.

J.Montgomery answer a yes or no question. If this wal mart market goes up and adds this "60-90" jobs; do you think harps cash saver and Kroger will maintain 100% of their current staff? If not start addressing this with real numbers. Numbers that this town will actually see, not just employees at the wal mart. Cashiers who will get paid 8.50ish and not allowed more than 28 hours. How much do you think the shelf stockers, cashiers, etc get paid? Really, how much? You think they are getting almost $13 an hour? This isn't Costco. And if all these people want their way, this store would already be going up if they would have just purchased commercial land somewhere. Problem solved. Wal mart is intentionally locating here to hurt cash saver and kroger. It is right in the middle! They are blatantly stealing business. Are you okay with that community progress?